Characters: Colonies may form large patches of reefs. Branches are cylindrical and commonly fuse. Growth-forms and corallite characters are extremely variable so much so that single reef patches are composites of distinct races.
Colour: Mostly dull greys and browns.
Similar Species: Porites cylindrica and P. harrisoni, which have a similar appearance underwater. Sometimes recorded from the western Indian Ocean, however these records are likely to be P. harrisoni.
Habitat: Shallow protected reef and lagoon environments.
Abundance: The dominant coral in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Taxonomic Note: Records in the western Indian Ocean are incorrect. Very polymorphic in Hawaii.
Taxonomic References: Vaughan (1907a); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Maragos (1977); Fenner (2005);
